With “Supergirl” failing to take off at the box office, DC Studios is under pressure to prove its developing cinematic universe has real momentum. Building the next chapter around Clayface, a Batman rogue better known as a tragic shape-shifting monster than a marquee headliner, is a risky move — but if the second trailer is any indication, that gamble may pay off in a major way.
The first “Clayface” trailer ran just over a minute and leaned heavily on unsettling flashes of Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) enduring the brutal accident that disfigures him and sets him on the path toward becoming the infamous villain. This new preview gives the story more room to breathe, showing Matt being targeted by criminals before turning to an experimental procedure in the hope of reclaiming his movie-star appearance. At first, the treatment seems to work — but it quickly becomes clear that the cure comes with terrifying complications.
One of the trailer’s most disturbing images arrives when Matt rubs his eyes and discovers loose skin gathering over them. As his body begins to lose its stability, he retreats to a restroom and reaches for a pair of scissors, setting up a moment that looks designed to test even seasoned horror fans. “Clayface” appears to be embracing full-blown body horror, a choice that could help the film stand apart in an increasingly crowded superhero landscape.
We won’t see Clayface’s true form until the movie is out
Warner Bros.
The latest “Clayface” trailer is packed with grisly details, from Matt Hagen’s face beginning to sag to his desperate attempts to control abilities he clearly doesn’t understand. In one striking shot, he takes a punch to the face, only for his skin to collapse and absorb the blow in grotesque fashion. That kind of physical distortion is exactly in line with Clayface’s history across comics and other DC media. The trailer closes on Dr. Caitlin Corr (Naomi Ackie) staring in horror as a monstrous figure forms in front of her.
That final image is almost certainly a tease of Clayface’s true form: the towering mud-like creature he becomes when he is no longer trying to pass as human. Still, audiences should not expect the full reveal just yet. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, director James Watkins explained that restraint is part of the plan, saying, “I think people give away too much … I believe in the power of mystery and the power of suggestion and the power of people putting two and two together. I think it’s more fun.”
Questions remain about whether the new DC Universe will introduce its own Batman separate from the version seen in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” but for now, “Clayface” looks like a compelling entry point into Gotham’s darker corners. We predicted back in 2025 that “Clayface” would surprise audiences this year, and the trailers are making that call look stronger by the day. If the finished film delivers, it could show that the DCU is capable of more than upbeat comic-book adventures loaded with needle drops.
